Pensacola, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida
Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office hit
the streets of Pensacola this week capturing elusive fugitives and thwarting
some criminals. The Task Force worked together with the Sheriff’s Office
targeting violent fugitives trying to help make the people in the community
feel a little safer. Although the operation’s aim was to find fugitives,
others were arrested on probable cause charges while the Task Force was
attempting to find those with the warrants. In just four days 34 people were
arrested and 47 warrants were served on charges including sexual battery,
aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, strangulation,
possession of firearms, threatening witnesses, numerous narcotics violations
and threatening to harm a law enforcement officer. Also, during the four day
sweep two handguns, more than 60 grams crack cocaine, 5 grams of powder
cocaine and over 270 grams of marijuana were confiscated.

The sweep was successful because of assistance of task force officers from
Escambia County, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton County Sheriff’s Offices,
Ft. Walton Beach, Niceville and Defuniak Police Departments, (Florida
Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and
investigators from the State Attorney’s Office. Another reason that the
sweep was so successful was because of the contribution of the Escambia
County Mobile Booking Unit that was used to help speed up the arrest process
and transport of offenders.

“I truly believe that the success of this operation was augmented by the use
of the Sheriff’s Office vehicle which allowed officers to stay out on the
street giving them more time to do what was intended – arrest people,” said
Task Force spokesman Dominic Guadagnoli. “It’s like the old fashioned Paddy
Wagon but modernized to meet law enforcement’s needs today.”

The Sheriff’s Office purchased two Mobile Booking Units about a year ago.
They were bought to be used in special operations where large crowds gather
and multiple arrests may be anticipated. They have been used at such events
such as the Pensacola Interstate Fair and the Blue Angel’s air shows.